The Challenger

The Union Pacific's Challenger was a more affordable option to the City of Los Angeles as both passenger trains operated over the same route, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles
with the help of the Chicago & North Western (until 1955) between
Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago. As with the other west coast trains like
the Los Angeles and City of San Francisco, this streamliner
proved to be a very successful operation for at least 20 years although
by the late 1960s the train had been combined with several others
essentially ending its run. The train had ebbed and flowed as part of
UP's fleet, although it remained a permanent fixture on its timetable by the mid-1950s. It was discontinued a final time following the start-up of Amtrak.

The Union Pacific Railroad
(UP), the largest and one of the most powerful railroads in the
country, has been with us since 1862. Since it began service all of those years ago the
railroad has become not only one of the most highly respected
institutions in the nation but also has seen nearly every major
railroading event in our country’s history, and accordingly has a very
long and storied history. Its City fleet is credited as being the first lightweight streamlined passenger trains to operate in the United States. In 1934 the City of Salina,
the first in the fleet, debuted as a three-car lightweight trainset
that the Electro-Motive Corporation named the M-10000. The Union Pacific
was so impressed with the train, and the response it received from the
public, it purchased seven more sets and the City fleet was born!

Following the City of Salina, also in 1934 was the City of Portland, followed by the City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and City of Denver in 1936. The City fleet became revered throughout the west and rivaled the Santa Fe’s legendary Super Chief, and every other western passenger train, in exquisiteness and fine traveling. Once the trains received their Domeliners in the mid-1950s they became the lavish way to travel for many in Hollywood. The Challenger began operation in 1935 as a heavyweight train although its affordability made it so popular that soon afterward its equipment was updated (with rebuilt equipment) and featured reclining-seat coaches, diners, sleepers, and lounges. Much of the train's equipment came from discontinued runs like the Los Angeles Limited, which had since been upgraded to lightweight streamliners.

The train was operated in conjunction with the Chicago & North
Western between Omaha and Chicago with the Union Pacific
carrying the train westward to Los Angeles. A year later, in the spring of 1936 UP teamed up with the Southern
Pacific to offer patrons the availability to ride between
Ogden and Oakland/San Francisco known as the San Francisco Challenger.
Interestingly, the streamliner was discontinued in 1947 due to lack of lightweight, streamlined equipment for the train. However, its discontinuance was short-lived and by 1954 the train was back, this
time sporting lightweight cars of its own built by
both Pullman-Standard and American Car & Foundry. Included within the consist was the fabled Domeliners (dome coaches) and observations along with the lounges,
sleepers, and diners already provided previously with the train.

(The below Challenger timetable is dated effective June of 1956.)

Read Down Time/Leave (Train #107/Chicago & North Western)

Milepost

Location

Read Up
Time/Arrive (Train #108/Chicago & North Western)

6:15 PM (Dp)

0.0

Chicago, IL (North Western Station) (CT)

12:15 PM (Ar)

8:22 PM

138

Clinton, IA

10:00 AM

9:38 PM

219

Cedar Rapids, IA

8:43 AM

11:31 PM

340

Boone, IA

6:50 AM

1:51 AM (Ar)

487

Omaha, NE

4:30 AM (Dp)

Time/Leave (Train #107/Union Pacific)

Milepost

Location

Time/Arrive (Train #108/Union Pacific)

2:00 AM (Dp)

487

Omaha, NE

4:20 AM (Ar)

4:01 AM

632

Grand Island, NE

2:15 AM

5:55 AM (Ar)

769

North Platte, NE (CT)

12:29 AM (Dp)

4:56 AM (Dp)

769

North Platte, NE (MT)

11:28 AM (Ar)

6:40 AM

893

Sidney, NE

9:44 PM

8:25 AM (Ar)

995

Cheyenne, WY

8:18 PM (Dp)

8:35 AM (Dp)

995

Cheyenne, WY

8:08 PM (Ar)

10:00 AM

1051

Laramie, WY

6:48 PM

11:47 AM

1168

Rawlins, WY

4:48 PM

1:57 PM (Ar)

1302

Green River, WY

2:35 PM (Dp)

1:58 PM (Dp)

1302

Green River, WY

2:34 PM (Ar)

3:45 PM

1402

Evanston, WY

12:53 PM

5:20 PM (Ar)

1478

Ogden, UT

11:20 AM (Dp)

5:30 PM (Dp)

1478

Ogden, UT

11:07 AM (Ar)

6:05 PM (Ar)

1514

Salt Lake City, UT

10:29 AM (Dp)

6:10 PM (Dp)

1514

Salt Lake City, UT

10:24 AM (Ar)

11:23 PM (Ar)

1839

Caliente, NV (MT)

5:04 AM (Dp)

10:23 PM (Dp)

1839

Caliente, NV (PT)

4:04 AM (Ar)

1:01 AM (Ar)

1964

Las Vegas, NV

1:22 AM (Dp)

1:06 AM (Dp)

1964

Las Vegas, NV

1:17 AM (Ar)

6:16 AM (Ar)

2230

San Bernardino, CA

8:08 PM (Dp)

6:17 AM (Dp)

2230

San Bernardino, CA

8:05 PM (Ar)

7:37 AM

2292

East Los Angeles, CA

6:50 PM

8:00 AM (Ar)

2298

Los Angeles, CA (PT)

6:30 PM (Dp)

The C&NW's alliance with the Challenger, and for UP's entire City
fleet, lasted until October of 1955 when the railroad became dissatisfied with the
services C&NW citing declining transit times. As a result the
Milwaukee Road was approached and began handling Union Pacific's trains
into Chicago, a partnership that would last until the Challenger
was discontinued. As had been the case during the C&NW's years,
Milwaukee Road equipment was clad in matching Armour yellow with gray
trim and red lettering. The only way one could tell it was not Union
Pacific equipment was by Milwaukee Road's name and logo. The end began
as early as 1956 when it was combined with big sister City of Los Angeles
during the off seasons. For more reading and history about the train please click here.

As patronage and passenger rail travel
continued to wane the Union Pacific began combining most of its
passenger fleet until the Challenger itself fell victim in the late 1960s. In 1969 it along with the Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, City of Denver, and City of Portland were all combined into one giant consist the City of Los Angeles,
east of Wyoming. When Amtrak took over intercity passenger rail
operations in May of 1971 it chose not to retain the name or any other
Union Pacific train thus ending the railroad’s grand fleet of
streamliners. Today, you can still see what the City
fleet would have looked like when UP operates its official business
train, which still operates several pieces of original equipment,
including the EMD E9s.

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